Petunia plant named ‘Whip Sal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Whip Sal’, characterized by its low trailing, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; single flowers that are pink in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Whip Sal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Whip Sal.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Petunias with trailing and spreading plant habit and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Petunia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in September, 2000 of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 00-382-4, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 00-504-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Petunia was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny of the cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in March, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since March, 2001, in Gilroy, Calif. has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Whip Sal have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Whip Sal’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Whip Sal’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Low trailing, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Single flowers that are pink in color.     -   5. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had purple-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         had scarlet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         the cultivar Supertunia Soft Pink.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia were darker pink in         color than flowers of plants of the cultivar Supertunia Soft         Pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Whip Sal’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Whip Sal’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Whip Sal have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the summer with day temperatures ranging from 24 to 29° C., night temperatures ranging from 13 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 12 weeks from planting rooted cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Whip Sal. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida             identified as code number 00-382-4, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida             identified as code number 00-504-4, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 10 to 12             days at 23° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About 18 to 23             days at 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, then low trailing and outwardly spreading;             uniformly mounded plant form. Freely branching habit; about             seven basal branches each with about five lateral branches.             Pinching enhances development of lateral branches.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio             containers and landscape applications.         -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 50 cm.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous; rapid growth rate.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Internode length: About 6 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate before             flowering; opposite after flowers develop; simple. Length:             About 6 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; glandular.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing and             fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 146A. Developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 146B. Venation, upper             surface: 146B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole             length: About 7 mm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm. Petiole             color, upper and lower surfaces: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers             face mostly upward or outward; axillary. Freely flowering             habit, about two to three open flowers and about three             flower buds per lateral branch at one time.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, spring until frost in the autumn;             flowering continuous during this period. Plants start             flowering about eight weeks after planting rooted cuttings.             Flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.7 cm. Tube length: About             2.2 cm. Throat diameter, distil end: About 8 mm. Tube             diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong with ruffled apices. Color: More             pink than 198D.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform. Length from throat: About 1.8 cm.             Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Roughly fan-shaped. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: 54A.             When opening, lower surface: 55C to 55D. Fully opened, upper             surface: 55B. Fully opened, lower surface: 55C to 55D;             towards throat, 155D. Flower throat (inside): 155A. Flower             tube (outside): 155A. Venation, upper petal surface: 54B.             Venation, lower petal surface: 144C. Venation, throat: 144C.             Venation, tube: 144C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: 147A. Color, lower surface: 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 1.25 mm.             Angle: About 45 to 90° from the stem. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             five. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2 mm.             Anther color: 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 2.2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: 145C.             Stigma shape: Anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 146B. Ovary color:             144C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance. Plants of the new Petunia have been     noted to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures from 0 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Whip Sal’, as illustrated and described. 